"I needed a summer job when I was going to school in Oswego. I happened to know someone who worked there, then I got the job and worked my way up the ladder."

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

"My degree is in information science. I made a decision to stay in Syracuse to pursue an entry level job since we had companies like Applied Theory and Telergy. After I graduated, those companies laid off workers or left Syracuse."

PLAN B

"A guy with no work experience with a degree couldn't really do anything so I worked at Pascale's full-time."

OFF DUTY

"I clean the cat's litter boxes and play video games when I'm not reading. Right now I'm playing 'Castle Crashers' on Xbox."

ALL-EXPENSE PAID TRIP

"For work, I got to go to California for a week. I was very nice. We went to Napa and Sonoma Valley and learned how they made everything. It was great."

WORTH WORKING FOR

"The nicest thing is when you recommend something and people come back and say they love it."